Marking machine



Feb. 22, 1944. c. PUTNAM MARKING MACHINE Filed May.6, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 22, '1944.

c. PUTNA M MARKING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 22, 1944. c. PUTNAM MARKING MACHINE File d May 6, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet s Feb. 22, 1944. c. PUTNAM MARKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May a, 1941 E E PR9 BBQ n x 3 Feb. 22, 1944. N M 2,342,168

MARKING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1941 s sheets-sheet s Feb. 22, 1944. QIPUTNAM MARKING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 w a m 9 6 X S w v H w 56 w v ,m

gatented Feb. 22, 1944 I i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Applicatlilmcliahzf, :0, 392,156

This invention relate to improvements in connected through a link II with one-arm] l of a marking machines of a type adapted more parpivoted bell crank lever, the other arm II of this ticularly for marking hosiery. a lever being suitably connected with. the movable Heretofore it has been customary to 'markelement Ia of the clutch I. A spring II, secured hosiery by .means of decalcomania or transfers. to the arm l5 and to the frame I of the machine,

., Thi'smethod is relatively slow and expensive, and exerts resilient pressure tending to retain the eleparticularly 'so by. reason of the more recent rement Ia in the disengaged position.

quirement for multiple marking at the toe, heel, fThe shaft 3 carries an eccentric cam II which and instep, and sometimes also on the welt. is confined between a pair of rollers I3 and II The principal object of the present invention 1 on-a reciprocatory member 2|. This member 2| to provide a relatively simple and efllcient ma comprises two longitudinally extending side memcharacters, 'and colors of hosiery.

chine for marking hosiery with the required bers 22, 22 which lie respectively at opposite sides tiple marks, the machine being characte v k a of the cam II and are longitudinally slotted, as high, degree oi flexihility ;in,. ;e1 'jusjt indicated at 23 in Fig. L3, for receptionof the shaft to accommodate'themarkings to different sizes, IIS' II. The rollers l8 and I9 are pivotally' supported on pins 24, 24 extending between the arms 22,

The invention resides further in certain struc- 22. The rear end of the member 2| is, therefore, tural and mechanical details which function supported by the shaft 8, with the rollers l3 and jointly to aiford a machine of the stated charac- IS in engagement with the cam IT. ,The forward terlstics. g end of the member 2i is .pivotally connected at In the attached drawings: with a lever 26, this lever being pivotally sup Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a machin p rt dn th fra e t h the m dium or a madein accordance with the'invention; transverse shaft 21. The upper end of the lever- FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the ma- 21 is connected, hrough'a k-ur h 9) s ehme; 25 head 29 which is slidably supported in guides 3|.

Fig- 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3| i a rocker" D 1y- U pen ed n a t ans- H,F1g 2; verse shaft 33 in .the top of the frame I. Oscil- Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line lation of the lever 26, through the medium of the 4-3, Fig. 1; v member 2| and cam I I, will effect a reciprocation Fig.5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3" of the cross-head 29 in'the rocker 32. 5.44%, 1'; The shaft ii also carries a pair of cams-34,. 34 Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view positioned at opposite sides of the cam l1, and on t n e s, Flg,-1; each of the cams 3! is engaged by a lever piv- .Fig. '1 is an enlarged bottom plan viewof one otally s pp ed n a a t 38 exte t sof the marking elements detached from thema- 3. v r ely of the frame I. The other endof each chine; g of the levers is-connected, through a rod 31, Fig. 815 section on the line 3-3, Fig. '7'; with the rear end of the rocker 32. t It will be Fig 9 1 a, detached vi w in perspective 1' on apparent that oscillation of the levers, through of the color pots constituting an elementof the; h c s 4. l result in oscillatmll 0f the marking mechanism; 4o rocker'32 about its supporting shaft 33. Project- Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view in! over he rear end of the rocker 32 is a bracket illustrating a safety device forming a desirable 0n e frame I, d p i s 39. 3 are Confeature of th hi and fined between the rear end of the rocker 32 and Fig..11 is a section, on the line -I l--| I, Fig. 10.- the overlying brac n exert resilient Pr The machine comprises a fixed frame I, which 85 sure to maintain the levers 35 inengagement with may be of the general form shown in the several surfaces f the cams 34. e drawings. Mounted on the rear of the frame is Depending o the orward end of thecross- .a motor 2 which constitutes th prime mover of head 29 is an m which has h l w r slid the machine, and this motor is connected, through a transversely extending beam 12- red. to a suitable reduction gear 3', pulleys l and 3,, belt e beam 42 by means, in r h ll f nstance. 3, and clutch I, with a shaft 3 which is joumaled f bolts 43 are a pl r l yj brackets 1511684! in and extends transversely of the frame I. The brackets b in h ee i number n t en clutch I is, preferably, of the single revolution instance. and being illustrated .i FiQS- n type which, after engagement, will disengage As therein shown, each of the brackets comprises automatically after one'full revolution of the 55 an arm 35 which is providedw th alongitudinal- 1 shaft 8. In the present instance, the clutch I s 46 through which the u -bolts 43 exis engaged by means of a treadle 3 at the forward tend and w n o d I j n n f the end of the machine, which treadle is operatively brackets on the supporting beam '42." At the forconnected to a rock shaft, I l extending to the rear W rd e d 1'- h m .15 a depending boss", or the machine, as best shown in Fig. 3, this m n w i s l dably upported the stem of a shaft having at its rear end an arm I: which is -marking die 49. The stem, is retained in the boss by a collar I which is secured by a set screw '2 to the upper end of the stem and which seats-upon the upper end of the boss 41. The boss is countersunk at the bottom for reception of a spring I3 which exerts resilient pressure against the die 49, tending to hold the latter in a depressed position in the boss and causing the retaining collar Ii to seat solidly upon the upper surface of the boss. Preferably the opposed surfaces of the boss and the collar ii are toothed, as indicated at ll, so as to prevent the die I! andthestemlBfromturninginthebosathis toothed engagement also providing for adjustment of the die in the bracket about the axis of the stem 48.

' Supported on brackets 55, I! at the forwardend of the frame I is a table 56 which extends transversely of the machine. This table is formed, as best shown inFig. 6, with a central relatively flxed top section 51, and at each side thereof a relatively movable section 58, these latter sections being supported at the edges in dovetailed guides 58, and being slldably adjustable longitudinally of the table it and with respect to the central section 51. The relatively movable sections are engaged at the under side by a right and left-hand adjusting screw- Cl, which is rotatably supported in the table 56 and-which may be operated through a hand wheel 62 toadjust the movable sections 58 of the table top toward and from the central section 81.

' The table 58 is adapted to support the article to be marked, as indicated in broken lines in Figs. 4 and 6, and the table top sections 51 and B are adapted to cooperate as platens with the dies 49 in the marking operation. Thus when the table sections 58 are adjusted to accommodate an article of given size, the die brackets M will be correspondingly adjusted on the beam 42 to bring the dies into alignment respectively with the table top sections. This adjustment of the brackets 44 on the beam is eifected in part through the medium ofthe slots 46 of the brackets 44 and, longitudinally of the beam, through the medium of slots 63 in the beam, see Fig. 4, through which the securing bolts 43 extend. It will be apparent that the slots 63 of the beam and the slots 46 of the die brackets 44 afiord the latter a substantially universal adjustment with respect to the table 56. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 6 that scales 64 are provided on the table 56 to provide for rapid and accurate adjustment of the movable sections 58 of the table top in accordance with the particular size of the article to be marked. I

It will be apparent that the platen top of the table 56 may be made in one piece of adequate dimensions. It is desirable, however. that the end edges of the table be unobstructed so as to permit the operator to draw the ends of the article to be marked downwardly over the edges, as shown in the drawings, thereby stretching the article flatly on the platen and at the same time removing the hands of the operator from the areas of the dies. When used in this manner. the free edges of the table act as templates to amiss and the screw 11 when tightened against the under side of the said flange clamps the pot securely in position inthe sub-frame.

vJournaledintheirub-frarneandorntinuouslyoverthetransverselengthotthetnme isaneiongatedgearll which.whenthcmtis 'clampedinpositionssdescribedabovamcshes withthepinionllonthecolorpot. Atransverse shaftllisiournaiedinthesub-frameflbeiow thegearlhandsecuredtothisshaftisalesr 83 which meshes withthe gear II. The shaft alsocarrlesaratchetwheelflwhichismgsged byapawllipivotaliysecuredtoanarmfliournaledlooselyontheshaftll. Theouterendof thearmliisconnectemthrougharodlhwith thelever 2'. Oscillation of theleverlifliereby eflectathrouahthemediumoftheratehetflaud gear ".anintermittent rotationofthexesrll, andthroushthisgear,thepinion1l,andthegear I. a corresponding intermittentrotation of the rollerilinthecolorpot. Itwilibeapparentthat byreleaseoftheclampingscrewiLthepotsmay bereadiiyadiustedtovariouspositionslmgituaidinallyofthesub-fram liandofthemachine,

ormaybe quickly removed fromthesub-frame 8' for replacement by pots containing other color mediums. 'lhem sflarethreemnumberand areadapted to cooperate withtherespectivedie elements to supply coloring medium to the faces oi'thedies. 'I'othis end, thepotsareadiusted on thesub-frame SI intoalisnment withtherespective diesand withtheseveral topsectionsof thetable Ilwlthwhichthedlescoopemu previously set forth.

Themode of operationisasfollows: Whenthe machine is put into operation, the cross-head II will be given a reciprocatory movement in the uide 3|. thereby eflfecting a regocipmcatlonoftheseveralmarkingdiea-Dueto theactionotthecamsllinoscillatingtherocker 32, the movement of the dies will not be rectilineanbutwillfollowanirregularplthwhichwih bringthedieinto contactbothwiihthearticle sstobemarkedwhichislocatedonthetsblell.

enable the operator to locate the articles accurately on the platen for uniform marking. By making the table top adjustable asto effective length, advantage of this desirable feature may be had for articles of all different sizes within the capacity of the machine.

On the frame I at the rear of the table 16 pressed to a maximum extent. It will be noted andalsowiththeinkorcolorroll'lotth sssociatedcolorpot. Inlig.3,the dieis shown in the advanced and forwardly depressed position in which it is in Printing mgsgemcnt with zothearticlesupportedbytheoperatoruponthe table I. In this position,th lever 28 isatthc forwardendofitsoscillationandtherockerfl alsois in the extremeposition of oscillation. whereintheforwardendotthemckerisdethat by reason of the resilient mounting of the marking die I! in the supporting bracket 44, the contact of the die with the article is a resilient one, the pressure of contact being determined by the pressure exerted by the spring 53.

The cam I1 is formed so that there will be a slight dwell in the cross-head in this advanced position. The cams continuing to rotate, the levers 35 will be immediately released from the high points 34a of the cams 34, with the result that the rear end of the rocker 32 will be depressed under action of the springs 39, thereby elevating the several marking dies from the now marked article to a position of maximum elevation wherein, as the cam II operates to retract the cross-head 29, the dies will move in elevated paths clearing the tops of the ink rolls 68. At or near the point of maximum retraction of the cross-head 29, the cams 3|, by reason of the ele-, vations 3lb, will depress the forward end of the rocker 32 to the position shown in Fig. 1, wherein as the cross-head 29 is advanced, the die elements will be brought into facial engagement with the peripheries of the ink rollers 68 of the respective pots. When intaglio dies are employed, the conventional doctor blade (not shown) will be provided to scrape the-excess ink from the face of the die after the latter has contacted the ink roller.

After the forward movement of the cross-head has progressed to the point where the dies are in position above the table '56, the high points 34a of the cams 3! will again act to depress the forward end of the rocker 32, thereby carrying the dies downwardly into contact with the article placed by the operator upon the table 58. This cycle of operations will be repeated, and the action will be an intermittent one or will be continuous, depending on the choice of the operator. Thus, if the operator in starting the machine depresses the treadle 9 and immediately releases it, the machine will pass through one complete cycle of operations, and will stop when the cross-head is in the retracted position, this by reason of the action of the single revolution clutch previously de scribed. It the operator maintains the treadle 9 in the depressed position, the cycle of operations will be continuous;

-In the present instance. when the dies are in the i'orward depressed or marking position, the rocker 32. and also the working faces of the dies, are slightly inclined to the horizontal. See Fig. 3. correspondingly, the top surfaces of the platens 51 and 58 are inclined upwardly toward the rear edges. This arrangement affords better visibility the spring 92 is sufficiently great to ofiset the pressure of the springs 38 previously'described, but is suiliciently light to permit the end section 88 of the lever to turn angularly around the pivot Si in the event that the hand of the operator oifers an obstruction to the normal approach of the dies to the platen.

It will be noted that the machine is adapted to mark the feet of hosiery at three separate points, namely, at the toe, at the heel, and at the instep. Adjustment of the elements of the machine for marking hose of different sizes may be rapidly and eiiiciently effected through the medium, first of the adjusting screw 2 on the table, a corresponding adjustment of the brackets 44 on the beam 42, and a similar adjustment of the color pots 66 on the sub-frame 55. The design of the mechanism, as described above, also provides for rapid removal of the color pots from the supporting frame for substitution of pots containing other colors or characters of ink or color medium.

One of the advantages of a machine of this character in the marking of hosiery over the prior transfer or d method resides in the greater latitude which it affords in the data content of the individual markings. To include in the marking with the standard data items of size, and name of producer or merchandizer, such additional items as character of material and color, would require the maintenance of a prohibitively large and various stock of decalcomanias; whereas it is entirely practical to maintain the required variety of marking die each inclusive of all these items. It will be understood, however, that the machine is not limited in its utility to th marking of hosiery, nor to the use of multiple dies, since for the marking of certain products a single die may sufllce. I

I claim:

In a marking machine comprising a work supporting platen, marking means enacting with the 5 platen and movable in vertical planes to and able on the carrier in-directions both parallel for the operator and aids in placing the articles 5 to be marked accurately and flatly on the platens.

- It will be apparent that by simple rearrangement of the parts in the assembly. the dies can be made to engage the platens in a horizontal plane if for any reason that might be found desirable.

In Figs. 10 and 11, I have illustrated a safety device which will preclude injury to the fingers of the operator if inadvertently caught beneath the marking dies as the latter move downwardly toward the platen. The levers 3511, which correspond to the levers 35 described above, are in this instance provided with a pivoted end section 88 which carries the roller .9 engaging the cam 34. This end section, which is pivoted at 9| to the body of the lever "a, is normally held in proper position with respect to said body by means 01' a spring 92, this spring being confined between a flange 93 on an extension 84 of the pivoted end section 88 and an opposed flange 95 on the body or the lever. The pressure or to and transversely of said planes of movement so as to provide for varying the relative positions of the dies both longitudinally and laterally of the working face of the platen; said inking means comprising a support structure paralleling the platen, a plurality of receptacles slidably mounted in said support structure for individual adjustment transversely of said planes of movement and longitudinally of the platen, an a plicator roll in each receptacle and an external gear for rotating the roll, an elongated gear in said support structure extending transversely of said planes of movement for operative connection through the first named gears with the said applicator rolls, said elongated gear providing for operation of said rolls in any of the said adjusted positions of the receptacles in the said structure; and mechanism for driving the said elongated gear and for simultaneously actuating the said carrier so as to move the dies in said vertical planes and into engagement successively with the platen and the applicator rolls of the respective receptacles.

CARL PUTNAM. 

